Next Century Cities Announces #MobileOnly Challenge — Sign on Today!

Take the #MobileOnly pledge and join Next Century Cities in telling the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that all Americans deserve access to fast, affordable, and reliable broadband, which can’t be provided via a mobile connection alone.

The #MobileOnly Challenge, announced today, will run January 1 through January 31, 2018 to protest the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) proposal to lower broadband standards. The FCC currently defines high-speed broadband as fixed service at 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload, or 25/3 Mbps — a speed sufficient for a household to stream multiple video services as well as checking email and searching the internet. If FCC Chairman Ajit Pai gets his way, Americans with access to mere 10/1 Mbps wireless only service would be considered as having high-quality broadband access by the FCC, and would miss out on funding and other investments to ensure better quality access.

To participate, all you need to do is spend one day in January accessing the internet via only a mobile device — foregoing desktop devices or laptops with fixed connections — and document the experience using the hashtag #MobileOnly. Does using the internet on only your phone make it harder to type up a report, apply for a job, stream a video, or anything else you and your constituents need the internet for? Let the FCC know! Cities, mayors, and individuals can all take the pledge, so sign up here today.

Next Century Cities is committed to helping its members bring fast, affordable, reliable broadband to all residents, and believes that maintaining the federal broadband standard is essential to doing so. Learn more and pledge to take the Challenge today at MobileOnlyChallenge.com. If your city or mayor would like to sign on as a Challenge partner, please email Cat Blake.

Find more graphics, sample posts, further reading, and more in our #MobileOnly social media toolkit.